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Look what's new each  month at our local chapter.  A new eNewsletter will be available the second Tuesday of each month. 

Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis is CCFA's national evening walk and celebration, and the nation's largest event dedicated to finding a cure for these digestive diseases.  Now in our third year, we have expanded to over 100 Walk sites across the country, four within the Greater Washington, DC/Virginia Chapter area. Join with the thousands of people who will gather this spring and summer to join the fight against digestive diseases. Together we'll raise money for crucial research, and raise awareness of these diseases that afflict millions of people. Contact Marcy for more information and register for your local event below!

RICHMOND TAKE STEPS FOR CROHN'S & ULCERATIVE COLITIS
PRESENTED BY THE CENTER FOR DIGESTIVE HEALTH/VCU MEDICAL CENTER

Richmond's Take Steps Walk for Crohn's & Colitis is excited and honored and to be partnered with the Center for Digestive Health/VCU Medical Center in our mission to improve the lives of people living with inflammatory bowel diseases. The Center for Digestive Heath is the Richmond Take Steps presenting sponsor and partner in raising money to help fund research of the highest quality and in addition, offer a wide range of educational programs for patients and health-care professionals, and provide supportive services to help people cope with these chronic intestinal diseases. These programs are supported by contributions from the public and through generous sponsorships such as this, generously provided by the Center for Digestive Health/VCU Medical Center.
John Kuemmerle, MD, one of the four warm and caring physicians at the Center for Digestive Health/VCU Medical Center, kicked off the Richmond Take Steps walk on May 20th with a moving and motivating speech about how CCFA is helping raise awareness and fund research. Dr Kuemmerle, along with Stephen Bickston, MD represented the Center for Digestive Health at the Richmond Take Steps Walk and visited with many of their patients attending the event.  Also a part of the Center's practice is Puneet Puri, MD and Homayoon Akbari MD. CCFA is very proud to be partnered with the Center for Digestive Health and looks forward to a long and supportive relationship with this thriving practice. 

 

Join Team DC and train locally for a 13.1 mile walk/run to raise awareness and funds for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.  This summer, cross the finish line with Team Challenge at one of these exciting destination races: the 13.1 Half Marathon in historic Boston, or the Napa-to-Sonoma Half Marathon in California Wine Country. To learn more about joining a local team, join us at an upcoming information meeting or contact Dominique

We are excited to announce CCFA's new Team Challenge Cycle Training Program, hosted by Centurion Cycling, this 1 day 50 mile race will take place in the beautiful mountains of Ontario Canada.  By entering the biking/cycling market, we hope to raise even more awareness and funds for IBD research by offering a new and different way to get involved with Team Challenge. 

For this pilot event, there will be one National Team training and fundraising virtually.  Participants will receive weekly coaching calls, tips and a 14 week training schedule to reach their personal best.

Advocacy

Join the Greater Washington D.C./Virginia Chapter Advocacy Task Force

Are you interested in advocacy and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?  Are you interested in sharing your story?  Are you interested in expanding research conducted on IBD?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, the CCFA is looking for you!  The Greater Washington D.C./Virginia Chapter is seeking members for its Advocacy Task Force. 

In May 2009, the CCFA was successful in getting the IBD Research and Awareness Act introduced in the House and Senate.   Currently, the CCFA is working closely with our congressional sponsors to enact this important legislation before the 111th Congress adjourns in the fall of 2010.  In order to accomplish this goal, an Advocacy Task Force was established to assist in passing this bill. 
 
The Advocacy Task Force will assist in gaining support of legislators in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland areas.  Other duties of the task force include assisting in arranging legislative home visits, recruiting for IBD Day on the Hill, facilitating email and letter writing campaigns, attending townhall meetings and other duties as assigned.  The focus of this grassroots effort is to secure "co-sponsors" from the House of Representatives and Senate. 

If you are interested in serving on the task force and for more information, contact Caneka McNeil at canekamcneil@comcast.net.

NEWS RELEASE
Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program
Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2010

Our Chapter currently has many support groups. If you are interested in joining one of these groups, or would like information on how to become a facilitator or start a support group in your area, please contact us at 877-807-5271 or (703) 865-6130, or via e-mail at washingtondc@ccfa.org . All support group listings are subject to change. Please call the chapter or contact person to confirm the meeting date, time, and place. 

Calendar

Click on the Calender above to view meeting times and dates, or check the Support Group list below.

ACTIVE SUPPORT GROUPS

VIRGINIA

Charlottesville, VA - University of Virginia Hospital
Contact: Kathy Fowler - fwlr6@yahoo.com

Falls Church, VA - Fairfax Hospital
Conference Room F (at the top of the stairs by the cafeteria)
4th Saturday each month 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Contact: Judy Shapleigh - jshapleigh@verizon.net

Fredericksburg, VA - Mary Washington Hospital
Conference Room #1, West Tower
2nd Tuesday each month, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Contact: Carly Medosch- carlyrm@gmail.com; Jill - 540-898-5035

Hampton Roads, VA - Windsor Woods Area Library
3612 S. Plaza Trail, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
2nd Saturday each month, 10:30a.m.-11:30a.m. (please note the new time/date)
Contact: Zenaida Limon- zenaida.limon@med.navy.mil

Richmond/Mechanicsville, VA - St. Francis Medical Center
Ovierto Room. 
2nd Thursday each month 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Tammy Hylton at 804-833-6656,hilton0519@aol.com.

Roanoke/Radford, VA-Carilion New River Valley Medical Center,
Suite 100
2nd Tuesday of each month
6:00pm
Toni Helms RN or Doris Trail RN at 540-731-2190

Winchester, VA - Winchester Medical Center Campus – System Support Building
Conf Rm #5
1st Tuesday of every month 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. (except holidays)
Amy Benner at 304-671-8790, poohbear6789@yahoo.com

MARYLAND

Silver Spring, MD - Holy Cross Hospital
Lobby Level-PCEC Hallway- Education Room #1
2nd Sunday of every month 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 
Margaret Field at mafrn@verizon.net

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Washington, D.C. - Howard University Hospital
 3rd Saturday of every month 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Human Resource Training Room, Room 2038B
Evelyn H. McNamee at 301-260-7591

SUPPORT GROUPS ON HOLD:
If you are interested in being either a participant or a facilitator for one of these groups, please contact us.
Washington, D.C. - Children's National Medical Center
Fairfax, VA - Fair Oaks Hospital
Manassas, VA - Prince William Hospital

Greater Washington D.C./Virginia Chapter

CFC Designation Code: Local #36149
Mid-Atlantic Regional Director - Patricia Berchoff
Mid-Atlantic Education and Support Manager-Caneka McNeil
Walk Manager, DC - Marcy Fritter
Endurance Manager- Dominique Dupras
Mid-Atlantic Regional Operations Coordinator - Stephanie Campbell

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Richard Resnick        President
Michael Wolly             Past President
Eric Pollack, M.D.      Chair Chapter Medical Advisory Committee
Herb Ezrin                   Secretary

MEMBERS AT LARGE 
Wendy Albertini
Debbie Berkelhammer
Wade Brittingham 
Judith Cohen                                    
Jill Crissman
Timothy Donoghue                      
Herb Ezrin                           
John Fleder
Matthew Keiser 
Robert Lipnick, M.D.